Island



No. 615,347. Patented Dec. 6, I898. w. ELY.

ELECTRIC swn'cm' (Application filed Aug. 14, 1896.)

(No Model.)

2 $heets-8heet l.

WITNESSES. INVEINTDRI' 5 .g %z@w Zu/av 210 EIY No.'6l5,347. PatentedDec.6, 1898. W. ELY.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

(Application flXedAug. 14, 1896.) (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WI'F'NEISSBS'. I'NVEIN'PEIRZ -& QQLILL BY m: mums vzrzas 90., monxumn,'w sumsmurn c.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM ELY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

ELECTRIC SWlTC H.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,347, dated December6, 1898.

Application filed August 14, 1896. Serial No. 602,759. (No model.)

To a. whmn it may concern: I

Beit known that I, WILLIAM ELY, a citizen of the United States, residingin the city and county of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, haveinvented a new and useful Eleotric Switch, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to electric switches having knives or arms carriedby a rotatable shaft for connecting contact-posts arranged in pairs orseries. use in cases where two distinct systems or circuits are arrangedwith their contact-posts in line with each other, and it may bedesirable that the knives or arms should traverse an arc of one hundredand eighty degrees in order to break the circuit in one of said systemsand make it in the other.

The object of my invention is to provide means for actuating said knivesto give them sudden and positive movement in either direction to open orclose the circuit with adequate rapidity and positiveness to preventshort-circuiting or the formation of an are between said knives andcontact-posts.

I attain the desired end by the novel construction and arrangement ofthe knife-actuating mechanism, as more fully describe hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of anelectric switch, showing my invention applied thereto and the knives orarms connecting the contact-posts to close the circuit. Fig. 2 is asimilar View showing the position of the knife-actuating It is alsoapplicable for the movement of said arm 15.

Similar reference-numerals indicate like parts Where they occur in thedrawings.

2 represents the base. 3 and 4 are contactposts secured to said base,and 5 and 6 are the main wires secured to said posts. 7 and 8 are othercontact-posts arranged in line with said posts 3 and a and serving alsoas binding-posts to which the service-wiresare secured. Secured to orforming integral parts of said base are upright housings 9 and 10, inwhich is journaled a rotatable shaft 11, carrying knives 12 and 13, forconnecting said posts in pairs, as shown, or in series, as may in somecases be preferable. Said knives are secured to a block or plate ofinsulating material, in turn secured to said shaft. The parts so fardescribed I do not claim as new.

I construct an arm 15, as shown in Fig. 8, open-slotted on one side,either entirely or partially through, and rotatably fit the same uponthe shaft 11, so that it may partially rotate without reference to themovement of said shaft. Said arm 15 is bored or counterbored to receivea crank 19, rigidly secured upon said shaft 11 and adapted for partialrotation with said shaft without reference to Said crank extends atright angles to said shaft and is rotatable within the bore orcounterbore of said arm 15 and is actuated for purpose of rotation byforce exerted against its sides by the respective sides or jaws 22 and23 of said open-slotted arm. A lever 21, loosely pivoted upon said shaft11 and rotatable without reference to the movement of the latter andprovided with a lug or pin adapted to engage with lugs on said arm 15,serves as a means for applying force to said arm 15 to grees andthecircuit broken. Fig. etis a plan View. Fig. 5 is a section on line 03 00of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a plan View of the crank. Fig. 7 is an edge view ofthe same. Fig. 8 is a plan view of an arm which is rotatably fitted uponthe shaft and is adapted to receive and be rotated by the crank. Fig. 9is a section on line Y Y of Fig. 1. Figs. 10 and 11 are side elevationsillustrating a modification of my invention. same.

Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the Fig. 13 is a section on line W W ofpartially rotate it in either direction. Upon the side of said housing 9I pivot an oscillating guideway 18, within which is fitted toreciprocate a cross-head 17, preferably made with an'integral arm orextended portion 16. The free end of said extension 16 is pivoted to thefree end of the arm 15. An extensi ble spring 20, extending from thefree end of the crank 19 to the cross-head 17 and connecting the two,serves to accelerate the movement of the crank, and thereby throw theknives into or withdraw them from con tact with the posts with rapidityand positiveness.

In practical operation of my invention, the parts being assembled asshown and-described, force applied to the lever 21 causes the arm topartially rotate till its jaws engage with the side of the crank 19,bringing the crosshead and arm into central alinement with each other,the guideway 18 accommodating itself to the changing position of thecrosshead, and the spring 20 being extended further movement of thelever throws the arm and cross-head out of alinement, when the reactionof the spring 20 accelerates the movement of the crank and its shaft,causingthem to move more rapidly than does the arm 15. The deviceoperates in the same manner in either direction.

Modifications may be made without departing from the principle of myinvention or impairing the efficiency of the device. The guideway may bemade stationary and the cross-head and arm be connected by a linkpivoted to each. The jaws of the arm may be made wider and the link orextension 16 be made longer, thereby allowing the knives to traverse anarc of one hundred and eighty degrees instead of ninety degrees, asshown.

, The jaws may also be prolonged and the lever caused to engage withtheir inner faces instead of with the lugs, as shown.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In anelectric switch, a supporting base or body, a rotatable shaft journaledtherein,

a crank rigidly secured upon said shaft and rotatable therewith, an armopen-slotted at one side and rotatably fitted over said crank and shaftand adapted for partial rotation without reference to the movement ofsaid shaft and crank, a lever loosely pivoted upon said shaft androtatable without reference to the movement of the latter, and adaptedfor engagement with said open-slotted arm to actuate it and said crank,a cross-head pivotally connected with said arm and adapted forsynchronous oscillating and reciprocating movements, a pivoted guidewayfitted to receive said cross-head and to oscillate there with, anextensible spring connecting said cross-head and the free end of saidcrank and adapted to serve as specified to accelerate the movement ineither direction of said crank and shaft, all combined with each otherand adapted to serve as and for the purposes specified.

2. In an electric switch, a supporting base or frame, a rotatable shaft,one or more c011- tact knives or blades carried by said shaft, a cranksecured upon saidshaft, an arm openslotted at one side and as to suchside rotatably fitted upon the confined end of said crank concentricallywith said shaft, and partially embracing said confined end of said crankwhereon it is capable of partial rotation without reference to themovement of said crank and shaft, a cross-head pivotally connected .withthe free end of said slotted arm, guide means for said cross-head, andan extensible spring connecting said cross-head and the free end of saidcrank, all combined with each other and with actuating means.

3. In an electric switch having a rotatable shaft and a crank orcrank-arm rigidly secured thereon, and supporting means, combined withsaid parts an arm 15 open-slotted at one side and rotatably fitted uponsaid shaft and crank concentrically therewith and capable of partialrotation without reference to the movement of the same, a pivotedguideway 18 adapted for oscillating movement, a cross-head 17 adaptedfor reciprocating movement in said guideway and for oscillating movementtherewith,and pivotally connected with the free end of said arm 15, andan extensible spring 20 connecting said cross-head and the free end ofsaid rigid crank or crankarm.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in presence of twowitnesses, this 11th day of August, 1896.

WILLIAM ELY.

\Vitnesses:

HENRY MARsH, J r., EDWARD O. ALLEN.

